PTA History: 2000-2009

PTA entered the new millennium with renewed energy to supply the critical link between parents and educators, government, and the legal system. National security, No Child Left Behind, and the digital divide became important issues. So, too, did children’s health and safety reassert themselves as national concerns. PTA responded by creating new resources to encourage safe communities, anti-bullying measures, and healthy lifestyles at home and at school. As a means to galvanize all PTAs, a new tagline was adopted in 2001—everychild. onevoice.—to encapsulate the power and legacy of PTA. While our PTA community has grown and changed, one thing remains constant—caring members continue to make a difference every day.

2000

PTA publishes Building Successful Partnerships: A Guide to Parent and Family Involvement Programs and begins nationwide Building Successful Partnership training program

For a third year, PTA consults with Satellite Educational Resources Consortium to develop and present two teleconferences on the challenges of parent involvement and working with school administrators and teachers

Key components of the PTA-initiated Parental Accountability, Recruitment, and Education (PARENT) Act are incorporated into the U.S. Senate bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Supports Music Education Coalition’s SupportMusic.com initiative to help strengthen music programs in schools

Inaugurates Anna Weselak of Lombard, Ill., as president

Works with National Cable Television Association to provide 100 Cable in the Classroom “Control Your TV” workshops nationwide

Selects Target Corporation as first recipient of PTA’s Commitment to America’s Children Award

Hosts first annual Walk for Healthy Kids at its national convention in Columbus, OH, and hosts U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings as a speaker

Publishes Healthy Lifestyles at Home and School notebook

Jointly hosts “Back-to-School: Child and Adolescent Health” media briefing with the American Medical Association in New York City…targets new series of electronic newsletters to parents and PTA leaders—The PTA Parent, PTA Local Leader News, and PTA Partnerships in Leadership

Becomes The Ad Council’s top public service announcement campaign

Passes national resolutions on “Bullying,” “High School Graduation, College Preparation, and Access,” and “Teacher Quality”